Automatic grave closure



0.1. JANS KY. AUTOMATIC CRAVE CLOSURE.

APPLICATION FILED-SEPT. 3| 1921.

I Patented June 6,1922.

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CHARLES J. JAnsKYQor 'rwo nrvnns, isconsin.

1 AUTOMATIC GRAVE o osURE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 6,1922.

Application filed September 3, 1921. Serial No. 498,367;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. JANsKY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of vTwo Rivers, in the county of Manitowoc and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Grave Closures; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear and exact description thereof. 7

My invention relates to a new and improved automatic grave closure which is of the typeparticularly adapted for use in covering the grave while the last funeral rites are being performed;

One of the important objects of the invention is to provide a simple and compact structure which contains the cover and means for operating the same to cover and uncover the grave and which can be conveniently carried from place to place.

More specifically the object of the invention is the provision of a housing or casing within which said mechanism may be con tained and having a door which is automatically opened and closed whenever the curtain is projected over the grave to cover the same and retracted to uncover it.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved structure by which the closure is elfected.

The device which comprises my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the device in extended position.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the same with a portion of the housing shown in section.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view show- 3 is rotatably mounted within the cabinet,

and carries a curtain 4 which, when it is extended, constitutes a cover for the grave, the outer end of the spring being secured to a pintle 22 which has a polygonal bearing in the bracket 23 which is detachably secured to the end of the cabinet so that it may be adjusted to obtain the desired tension in the spring. A strip 5 is carried by the outer end of thecurtain and is connected by the links 6 with the outer ends of a pair of self-supporting lazy tongs 7. The inner members of the lazy tongs are each provided with a pairof anti-friction rollers 8 and 9 which are mounted to ride in the guideways 11 and 10 respectively. The guideway 10 extends in a straight line across one end of the cabinet 1 while the guideways 11 are in the form of arcs described about the central portion ofthe guideway 10. When the curtain is extended to its full length the rollers 8 and 9 will occupythe position shown in Figure 2. As the curtain is retracted the rollers 9 will ride outwardly while the rollers 8. follow the arcuate course of the guideway 11. A door 12 is hinged at 18'and normally occupies the position shown in Figure 4 with the curtain and its operating mechanism concealed within the cabinet. projected over the grave the strip 5 will automatically open the door and in returning the lower edge of the strip will engage the heel 14 and automatically close the door after itself. Handles 15 are provided for extending the curtain and when the curtain is fully extended a spring latch 16 engages the lazy tongs to lock the same in that position. \Vhen it becomes necessary to uncover the grave the latch 16 which is fulcrumed at 17 is released by pressure on the thumb iece 18 at the other side of the fulcrum.

rovision is also made for removably attaching an emblem 19 of appropriate nature to the cover. The cabinet may be provided with suitable handles 20 and 21 so that the device may be readily handled and transported from place to place.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the device which constitutes my invention is very easily handled and operated. The cover may be controlled from the end of the grave and the door 12 is operated automatically by the strip which carries the outer end of the curtain. Thus the door is concealed when the curtain is When the curtain is extended and the curtain is always enclosed and concealed by the door when in retracted position.

I claim as my invention z 1. A grave closure comprising a housing adapted to be placed at one end of the grave, a roller in the housing and having a curtain mounted thereon, a door at the front side of the housing, means for projecting and retracting the curtain through the doorway for covering or uncovering the grave and means carried by said first mentioned means for opening and closing the door.

2. A grave closure comprising a curtain, a roller on which the curtain is wound, means for supporting the roller at one end of the grave, a pair of lazy tongs having their ends attached to the outer end of the curtain and guideways by which the inner members of the lazy tongs are guided to project the curtain over the grave.

A grave closure comprising a curtain, a roller on which the curtain is Wound, means for supporting the roller at one end of the grave, a pair of lazy tongs having their ends attached to the outer end of the curtain, the inner members of the lazy tongs having each a pair of guide members, a straight guideway for the innermost guide member and an arcuate guideway for the outer guide member,wl1ereby said lazy tongs may be guided to project and retract the curtain to cover and uncover the grave.

el A grave closure comprising a housing adapted to be placed at one end of the grave, a spring held roller in the housing and having a curtain mounted thereon, said curtain having a strip secured to its outer end, a hinged door at the front side of the housing, a pair of lazy tongs mounted in the housing with their outer ends having a link connection with said strip and operable to project said strip to draw the curtain over the grave in opposition to said spring, means for locking the lazy tongs with the strip and curtain in projected position, and manually controlled. means: for releasing said lock to permit the curtain to be woundon the roller under the influence oi the spring, said spring being engageable with the door to open and close the same automatically upon the projection or retraction of the curtain.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand at Two Rivers, in the county of Manitowoc and State of lVisconsin.

CHARLES J; JANSKY. 

